Double Coverage

Old News

I realized that I definitely forgot to tell you last week that Sorella Foster and I are staying together for another transfer. no surprise there.  We are excited about it because we are just figuring out the city and getting to know our investigators.  It would have been rough to get moved so soon after getting acquainted. 

New News

What IS new news is President finally figured out which missionaries are assigned to which ward.  We have had 10 missionaries between the two wards, and no one knew which one they would go to.  The wards were starting to freak out because obvi if they have referrals they don't want to give it to one elder if he goes to the other ward (and they really want to give all their referrals to the sisters anyways).  

So they were really just fighting over who gets the sisters. 

Make Room

It was so funny because yesterday was the first day the new wards officially had two separate meetings, and we still didn't know where we were assigned.  So we basically just had to choose one to attend.

Since the first ward was full, we went to the other one and then the bishops asked, 

"DOES THAT MEAN YOU ARE GOING TO THAT WARD?!"   

We explained,  "No, it's just that this one was full so we went to the other one."  

Then the bishop of the first ward offered, "Sisters, I will get you more chairs if you want more chairs." 

So it's nice to feel loved. 

Double Coverage

But, anyway, President finally decided that we get to go to BOTH wards... which is great because we don't lose any of our investigators, but also super hectic because we have to report to two bishops, two RS presidents, two mission leaders, etc... 

Lots of work here in Rome.  No time to eat or sleep. really though.. we had to skip lunch twice this week. 

Grand Central Station - Rome

It was a SUPER busy week because of transfers.  Almost everyone comes to our area to switch or pick up new companions or something.  So we had to babysit different sisters all week, taking them where they need to be and feeding them.  

So we have no money for food left (guess that means it's pasta all week till the new transfer comes)... it's only 50 cents... I'm going to die of over pasta.  I never thought I'd say that. 

But it was really fun getting to meet new sisters.  So really a lot of this week has just been traveling and trying to fit in some appointments and meetings with President and other assignments.

Highlights:

... at least the ones I can think of right now:

Last pday I saw the Mosè, which is one of my DREAMS, and it was beautiful.

The Mosè (Moses) by Michelangelo 

at the basilica of San Pietro in San Vincoli

Not a Noodle

That night we went to a serrata familiare (FHE) with one of the ward members and we ate pig skin.  It was funny because all the missionaries who came with us are younger than me in the mission and don't speak as much Italian.   

(the first time Kaitlin had pig skin - back in Cagliari)

So I was the only one who understood what it was, and I got to watch their faces as they tried to figure it out.  Then I got to watch their faces as I told them what it was.  I just pretended it was a noodle. 

Mission Talk

An elder from Napoli came up to the city and made me feel like an idiot because he said they heard the story about when we got lost in Rome that first night and the assistants had to come pick us up.  So now the whole mission (as he says) talks about the stupid sisters in Rome that have to call the assistants to rescue them...

Sleep Talk

Sorella Foster says I've been stress sleep talking in Italian.  The other night I said, 
"Fratello, I've called him every day and he won't answer my calls!" in Italian.  

I think I may need medical attention.

Gypsy Camp

We discovered a gypsy camp.  We felt impressed to go a certain park the other day, so we went to it and we talked to everyone there.  We still had time more time to work, so we prayed about it and felt we needed to go back. 

So we did, and we found three new people to talk to... and one of them said she wants her daughter to come to our English Course. 

Anyway, we also found out about a train that takes us to the metro MUCH faster then the bus, which also passes behind this same park.   From the perspective of the train, we realized that there is a large ditch that goes behind the park and that there are HUNDREDS of gypsy tents and things. super sketch.

On Duty

Even with all this traveling and babysitting, we were still able to do quite a bit of work.  One morning we were taking the missionaries to the station, and we were able to give away a Book of Mormon and then invite another man to come to church (who had been listening to our conversation).  

It was a great reminder that we are always on duty and we never know where we will find someone who might be searching for the gospel.

Weird... in a good way

Sorella Foster continues to make me laugh.  The other day we were sitting on the train and she told me she thought of a new game called "Zombie Tag."  sounds legit.  She reminds me of Scott sometimes. 

She also managed to compare the Lamanites and the Nephites to certain episodes of Scooby Doo. 

Favorite quotes of the week: 

 "When he gives you that stupid look, it's because he is looking at me behind you."

 "I just like adding flowers to things; it makes it classy.  It's like a photo-op with a big flower barrette." and 

"You are weird.. but like in a good way.. not in the 'I don't want to talk to you' kind-of-way."  (which she said when we were in bed trying to fall asleep.. out of the blue)

Thanks!

Thanks for the talk and the baptism pictures.  I may have cried a little. (I've never "happy-cried" so much in my life as on my mission.)   

Kaitlin on her Baptism Day

Also thanks to Brother Palmer for the sweet letter he sent with his mission experiences.. it touched my heart.  

Everyday Devotion 

It's been a busy but a great week.  Even though by the end we were super exhausted, it reminded me how happy I am to be here.  I love serving here in Rome.  

I find so much joy in knowing that all day, every day is devoted to the Lord's work.. even if it's small things like making lunch for 6 starving sisters, or staying up late to open the door for them after a 10 hour train ride, or listening to my companion talk about her MTC friends, or sharing my testimony with a man outside of our house as we wait for the elders to come pick us up in the car, or giving away a Book of Mormon, or having an FHE with ward members.  

Inside Out

I think about my life before and how absent the fullness of the gospel was from my life.  I had a testimony and I believed it to be true and I lived the principles, but there is something about actually living FOR the gospel.  

It changes you from the inside out.  

I'm so grateful for this time to serve.. in small and in significant ways.

With love from Rome,

Sorella O'Connor

"Weaknesses become strengths, challenges becomes opportunities, trials become triumphs, and adversity becomes adventure in the service of the Lord." - M. Russell Ballard

p.s. Doing a photo shoot for the bishop's family next pday. so excited.

(Email Sent - October 21, 2013)

Monday "Preparation Days!"

Like, who thought of this?  No one writes me on Monday and since I just wrote you guys like 2 days ago, I don't really know what to say.  

Just Stay Home

We had a really bad number week this week because all of our investigators were busy or couldn't see us or whatever so we just stayed home all week... just kidding... We didn't do that, haha.  

I decided that I never write about the funny things that happen to us-- and let me tell you we have a lot of weird things happen-- So I started writing those down in my planner too because I knew I would forget them otherwise. 

Different Ideas of Fun

Last pday was so good. I picked this piazza that I wanted to visit and then we just wandered around the streets of Italy.  I felt kind of bad for Sorella Foster, though, because we have different ideas of fun:  

I want to look in all the weird old shops that have things like busts of dead popes and buy expensive gelato because they have flavors like "rosemary lemon" and "sicilian almond" and "white beach and some other herb I forgot the name of."   

She wants to go to the shops that have bobble heads and mini coliseums and buy the regular chocolate-flavored gelato. But we work it out. I'm very self-sacrificing. ha. 

Pdays in Rome are the best.  I love the city. 

Talented

Sorella Foster tells me she has a special talent for matching people with their "doppelganger."

Apparently mine is "the overly attached girlfriend" girl from those memes.

overly attached girlfriend

overly attached missionary?

"One Simply Does Not 'Break Up' with the Missionaries"

We also found Edna from the Incredibles... literally the same haircut/glasses/way of speaking... 

also another less-active who sounds JUST like Mrs. Bennet from Pride and Prejudice. 

We also went to see this member, Sorella Iakaniani.. (pronounced yak-en-ya-knee) and her kids this week.  Their family is the best.  Her kids names are "Wolfgang" and "Demeter," she has a cool tattoo and her house is full of dragon statues and things.  They are converts of two years.  

She brought one of her friends to General Conference and English Course and gave her a Book of Mormon.. so we went over to encourage her to ask her friend to meet with us. 

Circus Entertainers

It was such a funny appointment because the kids were putting on a circus show for us:   literally jumping through hoops and things.   

Also they were coloring pictures of animals and adding them to their "gallery" because they sell their "paintings."  I'm proud to say that I'm the new owner of Demeter's cow drawing for only 1 euro.  

Later she apologized that her son was so wild and explained that he has ADHD.   I told her that I'm used to it because my brother has it too, so we started talking about the natural remedies that she has been using  (more omega 3s in case you are wondering, Mom) and it totally made me feel at home. 

 She kept apologizing, but I loved it. 

Blowing a Fuse

Also our apartment is SUPER cold in the mornings, so we found these floor heaters.   The other day, Sorella Foster turned them ALL on in the study room so it would be a heat box for us once I got out of the shower--great example of serving your companion.  

The only problem is that they blew the fuse while I was IN the shower with a full head of soapy hair.  

The power also cut off the water heater so the water immediately turned arctic cold... and Sorella Foster didn't know how to turn the fuse on (something I'm glad that I learned growing up with three sisters all trying to do their hair at once).  

But it meant that I had to get out and help her with soap still all in my hair.. and the fuse box is OUT of our apartment in the hallway.  So imagine me in my robe trying to find our fuse in the hall... 
forse (perhaps) TMI, but I thought it was funny. 

Eat Your Vegetables

So I've been trying to make Sorella Foster eat healthier foods with me--which isn't her favorite thing.  (I'm just trying to balance out the fact that the members feed us so much food--that we don't dare refuse or we will never get referrals.)  

So one day I decide to be nice and make gnocchi for Sorella Foster because she has never had it and I make her eat "bird food" with me (as she calls it).  I've made her eat a lot of things this transfer that she has never had:  like tomatoes, peaches, peppers, plums, oranges, etc.  

That's right, my companion has never had an orange.   Okay, maybe she has had an orange, but that's about it for fruit and veggies.  Also she refuses to eat strawberries.  (I'm working on it..) 

Second Helpings

So, like I said, I make gnocchi for lunch and we stuff ourselves and only THEN do I remember that we have a member appointment that night.  So we get there and they are like "Hey sisters, do you like gnocchi?" and we just groan a little and shake our heads "yes."  

#sistermissionaryproblems #ratherhavethistrialthentoeatdogmeatsomewhereelse..  

Bearing Testimony

But it was a great appointment. The family was baptized about two years ago.  The missionaries started working with the daughter when she was 15.  She got baptized and then the whole family followed.  We asked them when it was that they received their testimonies that the church is true.  

It was really sweet because they all had very personal and diverse experiences with the Spirit confirming the truth to them.  The youngest son, who is Scott's age, told his story last and it was touching because his parents said they had never heard his testimony before.  

That's one of the best things about serving in Italy: all the members are converts and they all have such special experiences and stories.  The Lord truly is a god of miracles and I know that his hand is in this work. 

Yesterday was the Primary program. cutest thing ever. I always loved it in our home ward, but it's even cuter with Italian kids.  That "no holding babies" rule is definitely the hardest one for me. 

Sharing Testimony

We also had a great lesson with Georgia this week.  We taught the first lesson again and put a huge emphasis on prayer.  She is really afraid of change in her life, but she has shared so many experiences with us about the Lord confirming that this is right for her. 

There is nothing better then sharing my testimony with our investigators.  There are so many things out of our control as missionaries.  We can't make these choices for our investigators;  They have to do it all themselves.  

But we are here to encourage them, to strengthen them, and to give them the spiritual witness that will bring them to act on the faith they are gaining.  I love being able to do that through my personal experiences and through my testimony of the scriptures. 

Finding Happiness

I often think about how blessed I have been in my life.  Sometimes I wonder why I was so blessed to have this guidance in my life while others have to do so much searching for it.  

I don't know the answer to that,  but I do know that it is through these changes and through TRULY following the Gospel of Jesus Christ and centering our lives on Him that we are able to find true happiness. 

This morning I read Mosiah 2:4

and it really comforted me to know that so many blessings come through obedience.  There really is no other way to find a perfect and complete happiness:  it is only through Jesus Christ that we can have that foundation. The Church is true.  It's all true. 

Anyway... That's really all I have to say for today. and lots of pictures.. if this place loads them fast enough.  Thanks for all the updates, Mom. and thanks for the letters.  I got Carla's letter today and it made me teary-eyed.  It really is such a strength to hear from loved ones back home.  

To all my friends that I never wrote:  Sorry

And to my friends that don't write me:  You know better 

Also shout out to Sister Batchkoff from the Hidden Springs Ward because she has sent me the most letters on my mission!  You are the best Sister B!  

(That does not include my own mother who is kind enough to send all my friends' mission blog updates that I love.) 

Ciao Ciao!  Off to see Rome

With Love,

Sorella O'Connor 

(Email Sent - October 14, 2013)

Loving the Rain in Rome

It has been raining ALL week and Sorella Foster and I love it.  Except for the fact that we both got colds this week.  

I happen to over exaggerate much more than she does though.  I didn't even know that she was sick, and I'm walking down the street muttering "I'm going to die" and that's just me.  We are feeling much better, except that I still can't hear out of my right ear just yet.  This too shall pass.  

But sickness aside, we had a really great week of miracles.  I realized last week that I've been stressing myself out WAY too much about not being perfect and still not knowing everything yet about the members, the ward, the city, the investigators, etc. piano piano.  As I've slowed down to count the things we ARE doing right, we have seen many miracles as we have been seeking to do the Lord's work. 

Wednesday Sorella Foster and I rented segways in Villa Borghese for her birthday pday.  It was honestly one of the funnest things I've done in Italy. 

Can I Please Kiss You?

Okay so I forgot to mention this last week, but one morning our appointment canceled and so we had to figure out where we could do some finding instead.  As Sister Foster said the prayer, I felt impressed to go to a certain park that we had never been to before.  We talked to just about everyone in the park and on the way out we started talking to this lady about English Course and how we are missionaries.  

She says, "You are American!  Can I please kiss you?" 

and I'm like, "Yeah sure, why not?"   

Then she says, "Please can you come to my house and meet with me and my daughter?!" 

and we are like,  "Umm yeah, we can't right now because we have an appointment but we can meet another day."  

Awkward Lesson

So we exchange numbers and she called US Wednesday night to meet them Thursday afternoon.  So I  thought,  "Wow, miracle!  This is who we came to find."   Turned out to be one of the most awkward appointments ever, hah.   

Basically the mom wanted us to come over to make friends with her daughter so she would come to our FREE English course and then she wouldn't have to pay her English teacher.  She kept trying to feed us Italian Twinkies, that I hate, so I made Sorella Foster put them in her purse. 

Sister Wives

We also went to see the Ukranian girlfriend of a less-active member who we want to start meeting with because she has been reading the Book of Mormon.  Well one thing led to another, and she convinced us to let her do our hair.  Sorella Foster and I came out looking like "sister wives" with strange braids in ever which way. 

Yes I took pictures.  No I will not send them to you. 

Mean Mother

On the way home that night, I turned to Sister Foster and I said, "Go talk to that girl at the bus stop."

  (I'm a mean mother... I say things like, "If you don't talk to them, they will NEVER hear about the gospel." which works because she is really shy but has a big conscious like I do.)  

So we start talking to her and she said, "Yeah, I know who you are.  Is Bishop Celestini still the bishop?"   

We were so surprised because a lot of people don't know who we are and still think Mormons are the same as Amish people out here.   Turns out she is a less-active member that was baptized by my MTC teacher!  We exchanged numbers and she said we could start meeting with her. 

Best Lesson

On Friday we had the BEST lesson on my mission.  We have these really great investigators named Angelo and Graziella who were found by my trainer Sorella Cojan a year ago. We went in to teach the Plan of Salvation because she had a lot of questions about life after death.  

The last time I was there we were just with the Graziella, and she asked some questions about justice and mercy that went along with an article in the last Liahona (that I just happened to have in my purse).  So I left it with her to read.  

This time I asked if she had a chance to read the article and she pulled out the magazine and said, "Yeah, but I have some questions... What is a deacon?"  

She had read the WHOLE magazine and she had some questions about the priesthood.   We explained that to her and she was so excited about the idea of priesthood power and how it works.  Then we taught them about the Plan of Salvation and the Spirit was really strong.  

The husband opened up to us about some experiences that he has had with the Holy Ghost and some legit dreams he had after he met the sisters the first time a year ago.  They are SO prepared and so ready.  

DO IT!

Sorella Foster and I had been practicing the baptismal invite, and I really wanted her to do her first one with them, but she was so nervous.  So we were sitting there and I'm nodding at her to extend the baptismal commitment.   She is shaking her head "no" and I'm shaking my head "yes", and I'm not budging.  

It must have looked so strange BUT she did it! and they said they are going to pray about it! for the 24th of November.  

THEN he asked if there were any scriptures in the Book of Mormon he could read about BAPTISM.  I said "YES, in fact there ARE."  So we left them with a chapter to read and the wife just kept talking about the peace she feels when we are there.  I was literally dancing home. 

Saturday was Sorella Foster's BIRTHDAY, so we got to see Conference for her birthday--which is the best birthday present.  It was a good day. 

General Conference

Conference was SO good. so so so good.  I tried to pick my three favorite talks and it was really hard.

 BUT I loved Elder Dube.  Seriously so cute. and so powerful.  

Also I loved Elder Bednar talk on Tithing, but mostly for the part about the blessings that we receive from obedience:  it's not always something huge like a new job or a bonus, but it's the strength to work harder or the faith to get through something.  Most of the time the blessings are easy to overlook but eternally significant to our growth.  

Then of course President Monson was great to hear.  You can just feel so much love when he talks.   It continually confirms to me that he is a prophet of the Lord and a representative of Jesus Christ on the earth today.  How grateful I am for that knowledge. 

Great Potential
We have a great new potential.  I saw this girl with bright purple hair and thought, "I HAVE to talk to her!"  She is really cool.  She and her boyfriend want to meet with us, and she said she is coming to English Course tonight. 

Sunday I hit 8 months in the mission, which is so weird. so weird.  But we had ANOTHER big miracle.  We have this really cute 18-year-old investigator named Flavia who had a baptismal date for the week Sorella Caramia and Sorella Omer left (the sisters before us).   It's been REALLY hard for us to meet with her because she lives far away and she just changed schools. 

 I have really wanted to meet with her and see where she is at, so I called to see if she was coming to Conference.  She said she would come, so we were HOPING that we would be able to have a lesson with her in between the sessions.  

Amen

That morning we said a prayer after our studies and I asked Heavenly Father that we would be able to have a lesson with Flavia that day.  Two seconds after we said "amen" the phone rang and it was Flavia!  She and one of the member girls were just hanging at the church during priesthood session, and they wanted to know if we could go for a lesson!  & it was such a good lesson.  

She is so ready.  We just need to help her know she is ready.  

Then in between the afternoon and evening sessions, we had an English Course student show up early to see the conference (we invited everyone to come).  We were able to have another lesson with her with the members there.  So we were so busy Sorella Foster and I didn't even think about lunch... ooops. 

Basta
Yesterday I got really really really sick in the morning.  I had to call Sorella Waddoups, and she told me that we had to stay inside at least for the morning and then see how I was after lunch.  I was bummed because I felt bad staying inside during proselyting time, but we had a lot to catch up on at home so it was okay.  We learned about the power of prayer for Sorella Foster's 12-week training.  Then after lunch, I said "Basta!  We are going out," and so we did.  

But ALL of our options fell through... literally all of them.  

Best Service

So we passed by this 85-year-old member, who is the cutest, because we always ask if we can help her around her house since she can't walk.. at all..  And she is seriously a hoarder (like worse then they show on tv) so it's hard for her to get around her house.  

She always says, "The best service you can do for me is find people to teach.  I really want to give you referrals but everyone I know is dead, so maybe you could knock the doors at my building?"  

So we did all 15 stories and we have 2 people that said to come back.. then on the way home we gave away 2 copies of the Book of Mormon and had a random street lesson with this lady at our bus stop by our house. doing work. 

Okay, so I'm out of time.  BUT I just want to say how much I love being a missionary.  I was kind of a downer last week, because I has having a really rough time.  I'm so grateful for the ways that the Lord works with us as missionaries and how closely I can see his hand in my life.  

The mission is the most emotionally challenging thing I've ever done, but it has brought growth and testimony in my life that I didn't know was possible.  

I know that the Savior lives.  I know He truly does love us.  

As we come to recognize and see that love that He has for us, the easier it is for us to follow Him with faith.  As we exercise that faith, He draws ever nearer to us and we can feel more profoundly that love. 

I know that this is His gospel.  I know it.  And I'm so grateful that as a missionary I have the best and sometimes strangest opportunities to share that testimony. 

With Love from Italy,

Sorella O'Connor

P.S. I almost forgot--They are changing my pday to Monday.. so you'll hear from me soon. 

(Email Sent - October 9, 2013)

Crying at this Internet Point

...the happy kind of crying ... for multiple reasons.  

First of all because the owner is playing Coldplay and Bon Iver and my heart is so happy and I'm distracted because I just want to listen, and secondly because it really is so great to hear from you guys and hear about silly little things and bigger greater things! 

(Dev and Di are pregnant! AHH YEAHH I didn't know!  I literally said yesterday, "NOW people can start getting pregnant because I'll be getting home about when they have babies.") 

So I'm happy happy happy. 

Have I Done Any Good?

This week has been kind of a roller coaster week for me.. just emotionally.  I realized that I am coming up on my half-way mark and was thinking, 

"What have I done so far?"  "What miracles have I seen?"   

President has been really pushing to have higher expectations for baptisms and I started to really get down on myself for still not having any baptisms.  I've always been really hard on myself, but this week I was especially hard on myself, feeling like I wasn't living up to my own expectations. 

I know it's not all about baptisms, so it wasn't just that, I was just feeling like I wasn't good enough.  As a missionary, negative thoughts like that just keep working on you to weaken your faith.  So I was having a couple of hard days and wasn't feeling the spirit in the work (which only made it worse).  

Where Do I Turn?

One of the good things about being cut off from the world is that when you have a problem like that, you really only have one person to turn to:  Heavenly Father.  I can't turn to my music, or my blog, or my best friends, or my family.  So you turn to the scriptures and prayer.  

I felt impressed that what I needed to do was to continue working on exact obedience (sometimes I fall asleep in my prayers and miss 15 min of my work out.. oops) and looking for small miracles every day. 

As I started to reflect on the small miracles every day, the Lord really showed me in small ways that I am doing good, and that I am having success, and that miracles take time and faith and that they will come. 

One of the elders got an email about some mission in California that now has the iPads and they are skyping members into their lessons and having 80 lessons and week.  I told Sorella Foster, 

"It's like we are the handcart company among a group of saints and the others are crossing the West in jet planes." 

We still use paper maps and get lost and are lucky to have 8 lessons in a week.  

Greater Faith

Then we started watching 17 Miracles again before bed and there is a part at the end where a man from the handcart company says that even though it wasn't the most efficient way and it was much harder than for the other saints,  they grew closer to the Lord and saw greater miracles because they had to show greater faith.  

Anyway, that's just a long way of me explaining that even though I had a hard time, I feel like that Lord has been closer to me and helping me to see the miracles in my work here. 

Weekly Miracles

So.. I thought I'd continue to share the miracles that I've seen here this week--

Thursday:   

Anna got baptized!  The sisters were working with Anna before we came here, so the elders just finished up her last lessons before her baptism.  But we got to work with her a little and we are now teaching her daughter.  

Her baptism was so sweet and special.  She was very excited and all her kids came.   The bishop talked about them following the example of their mother and the great gift they gave her in supporting her in her baptism.  

She is friends with a family in the ward, and a couple days later Fratello Di Cosimo calls and tells us that the OTHER daughter (the one we haven't been teaching) wants to get baptized too.  I was so shocked because she had seemed so hesitant.   

We started teaching her when we first got here and she wasn't really sure if she wanted to keep meeting with us.   Now she wants to get baptized.  So we are going to start meeting with her more seriously, which we are way excited about. 

Friday:  

We had a lesson with another investigator.  The sisters have been meeting with her for about a year (Sorella Cojan, my trainer, found her doing casa in casa when she served here) and she has never committed to a baptismal date.  

Well Sorella Foster and I have this goal to get ALL our investigators baptismal dates... which was scary for Maria (this investigator) because she specifically told us before that the sisters have tried to give her a date before and she would never agree to one.  

BUT the spirit in the lesson was super strong as we talked about faith in Jesus Christ.   At the end of the discussion, we asked her to set a goal to be baptized the 24th of November and she said YES!  

We were so shocked!  She still has a lot of progress to make, but she really opened up to us about her fears and why she hadn't been progressing in the past.  So now we can really plan our lessons to help with her concerns.  We were so so so excited. 

Saturday:  

We went and saw another investigator (kind of) named Patrizia who literally calls us 15 times a day to see us.  She lives in a home for the mentally handicapped, and Sorella Caramia told me that they go to see her once a month to give her a Liahona magazine.  

I was kind of unenthusiastic about going because I felt like we could be doing other things and it takes a long time to get there.  Anyway, it turned out to be a really good experience.  

She was so sweet and was so excited for us to come and read from the Liahona together and she asked if she could give a copy of the Book of Mormon to another friend who lives there.  So she gave it to this old man with no teeth and he was so excited to have his own copy.  

It doesn't seem like a huge miracle, because none of them can really get baptized, but there was such a sweet spirit there.   You just knew how happy they were to read the scriptures and have us there that day. 

Sunday:  

We went and saw a less-active and when we got there, there was another member there!  She is the sweetest lady... 85 years old and can't walk because she has bad back problems.  She was one of the first converts here in Italy in the 70s.  

We had a sweet lesson with them and this less-active sister bore her testimony of how she felt when she was baptized and how she knew it was true.  

Then we got to walk this sweet member lady home because she can't do it alone.  She just kept making me laugh because she would say things like, 

"Every day I just wake up and I'm like 'Really? Why am I still here?'  I'm so ready to be over there."

She doesn't say it in a sad, depressing way, more like a "I guess I have more to do" sort of way. 

Monday:  

We visited this cute Peruvian member living here in Rome and she kept mixing up Spanish and Italian words, which made me laugh.  We had a sweet lesson with her and she shared her conversion story and about how badly she wishes her family were members of the church.  

It's always a blessing to meet with the members and remember how blessed we are to have the fullness of the gospel.  It's amazing to hear the changes that these members have made in their lives and the sacrifices that they've done in order to have the gospel.  

There were a couple of small miracles from that day, just from people we met on the bus or in the street asking for directions.   Later I had the impression that it was important for us to meet them... even if they were tourists or had no apparent interest.

streets of Rome

AND Yesterday:   Yesterday morning we did finding in my new favorite park, Villa Ada... seriously SO beautiful.  I told Sorella Foster,  

"I REALLY want to teach about the Restoration in this park."  

 "I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun

 which descended gradually until it fell upon me." JSH 1:16

It's so beautiful and they have these HUGE trees that are filled with light.. perfect place to tell Joseph Smith's story.  

So we talked to one couple and they weren't interested.   Then I saw these two ladies and they looked super intimidating, so I'm like, "Yeah, I've got to go talk to them."  

So we did and one said, "Well, I'm an atheist so I'm not interested."  

But her friend said that she would listen to us, so we talked about the Book of Mormon and how it answers life questions like:  

"Why are we here?" and "Where are we going?" 

We bore our testimonies and it was really perfect.  There are some moments where you can tell they probably aren't going to accept the missionaries or the gospel, but you know you are still supposed to be there anyway.  That's how it was with these two women. 

The first lady then opened up to us and said she was atheist because she felt like God had never answered her prayers and that her church had never helped her in her times of need.  The spirit was so strong as we talked testified that God does know her and he does answer her prayers.  

Then we even got to teach them about the Restoration because of other questions they had.  It was a beautiful small answer to my wish.  

They didn't express any interest to meet us again or to know more, but we did tell them about the temple that they are building by the mall. 

Rome Temple construction with the mall in the background

(They said that there aren't Mormons in Italy, and I said, "Umm, yes there are.  In fact, they are building a temple here in Rome by the mall.")  So now every time they go to the mall, they will see the temple and will remember the truths we told them. 

Final miracle:  I got a letter from Maria Rita in the mail!  She explained how much Sorella Nef and I have touched her life and how she is still praying to know if she should be baptized on Oct. 13th.  It was a sweet reminder that I am doing my part, and I am helping people, and that the Lord is proud of me. 

Attitude of Gratitude

I'm grateful for difficult times, because without difficulty we have no chance to show our faith.  I'm grateful for the JOY that comes from bearing my testimony of Joseph Smith as a prophet of God, and that it is only in this church that we have the fullness of Christ's gospel.  

I'm grateful to be a missionary. 

I'm also grateful for strawberry grapes... that they exist and that they are grapes that taste like strawberries. 

By the way, I hit 8 months this week. so weird. Also general conference is this weekend!  IT'S LIKE CHRISTMAS.  Seriously, I love conference on the mission.  It's weird that I only have ONE more after this one. 

Anyway. out of time again.  Thanks for all your love and support and your prayers.  It means the world to me and gives me a great strength. 

thank you thank you thank you. 

With love from Rome, 

Sorella O'Connor 

(Email Sent - October 2, 2013)

Counting Miracles

Ciao Family :) hi hi hi hi

Just writing from a little internet point with church bells ringing in the background. I absolutely LOVE serving in Rome. We are always SUPER busy and there are so many people to talk to. I still miss Sardegna a lot, but I'm loving serving here in Rome. 

We have done SO much this last week that I don't know where to start. I wish I had time to write EVERYTHING... but I guess I need to save SOME stuff for later or no one will want to listen to my mission stories when I get home. 

SO.

Miracles for the week: 

I got W.O.K. for lunch last week. Who knew curry would be such a treasure when there are 12 pizza places that make up the food court at the mall here in Rome? (I had to buy more clothes because they couldn't bring my other suitcase over from Sardegna at the conference like they thought they would... no complaints here.) 

We got 2 new investigators!  One of them is Muslim, so we had to get special permission to teach her.  She comes from Morocco and she is the coolest.  Her name is Zara.. so we get along real well. (ZARA is also the name of a popular clothing store).  

We are teaching her English and then we teach the gospel after our lessons.  The other investigator is a daughter of a lady who is getting baptized tomorrow! (double miracle)  

Anna is an investigator the previous sisters were teaching, so Sorella Foster and I have been teaching her with the elders (to make the transition easier because she already knows them), and she got the okay go to get baptized this Thursday!  SO we are way excited about that. We are also teaching her daughter, Giorgia, and now the other daughter, Elaina. 

Miracle:  I got to do a scambi with Sorella Fossa who is from Pordenone and her parents know Paige!  How cool is that?!  

Sorelle:  Bennett, Fossa and O'Connor

It was really fun having an Italian companion for the day. She served here in Rome 2 her first transfer so she really helped show me around and know more about the members and some investigators and just where everything is. 

Pajama Time
Side Story:  So for my birthday, Paige sent me this pink floral nightgown which apparently is really popular where she was serving.   They sell nightgowns everywhere in Italy.. like they have whole stores just for pajamas.  

Anyway, Paige sent me one for my birthday because she has a matching one.   I had it on to go to bed and Sorella Fossa says "No way.. where did you get that?"   

I told her Paige sent it to me and she goes, "I have the same one!  I just didn't bring it with me because I was too embarrassed to wear it in front of people."  So I thought that was funny.  Famous Nightgowns of Pordenone. 

Paige and the other Pordenone Sorelle

Hypnotized
Also, we've finally been able to meet with some of the other investigators that we had before.  A big challenge we have working with investigators is teaching them a different way to pray. We have one investigator who seriously becomes hypnotized.  

We'll be teaching and a word we say will remind her of a certain prayer and her eyes will glaze over and she'll start reciting the prayer and then turn back to normal.  So yeah, we are working on teaching more about prayer. 

Political Party
Also another investigator told us that she thinks that God should just destroy all the wicked people now. She also thinks that God TOLD Obama to send a bomb to Syria. 

(By the way... are we in a war or something?  I know you want to keep me sheltered from world news, but I would like A LITTLE political update if our country goes to war or sends bombs from the base here in Italy. ??  ...at least that's what they say on the streets) So it's always a party. 

They Come at the End
Miracle:  I'm trying to teach Sorella Foster how to do park finding and we found this BEAUTIFUL park called "Villa Ada."  

So we get there and we sit on the bench for a minute because I wanted her to practice talking to me first.  

Then this girl sits next to us and is like, "Hey can I sit here?"

and I'm thinking "YES YES YES!"

...Everyone else runs away from us.  We ended up teaching her the whole first lesson!  It was just a small miracle because she didn't accept our offer to know more, but it was a sweet little teaching opportunity. 

So anyway, we decided to make a goal of how many people we are going to stop.  I had already stopped all my people and Sorella Foster had 3 left:  two immediate shut-downs and then when she goes to stop the last lady,  Guess What?  

We got to take a bus back to the metro with her as she is reading the Book of Mormon and we get her phone number.  So cool.  Miracles always come at the end... after we've exercised all our faith and talked to everyone in the park.. 

the miracle is always the last one. 

Keeping us Busy
Miracle:  Monday we had one lesson scheduled and planned to do a couple hours of finding afterwards.  Then we get a call from the new bishop. 

(Our ward was just split in two, and we still don't know which one we will be a part of... but one of the bishops is the husband of the cute family that is the Italian version of Taza from "Rockstar Diaries."  seriously, the cutest couple ever. I want to be them.  Sorella Foster and I have the biggest crush on their family... anyways.) 

So he calls and is like, "Hey sisters, do you have an appointment tonight?"  

We tell him that we are free after 18:00 (6 pm), and he says 

"Want to come over for FHE?  I have a co-worker coming over and I want you guys to be there.   Then we can invite him to stay for a spiritual thought."  

Sorella Foster and I were dancing in our seats on the bus.  

THEN the 1st counselor from the OTHER ward calls and says, "Hey, so we have been talking to the mission president and we are basically begging him to assign the sisters to OUR ward..."   

So I thought that was funny because we have 8 elders and only 2 sisters.  

Then on Sunday, the members were saying to us, "Hey so we have this friend we want you to come see."  

and we are like, "YES!  EVERYONE IS GIVING US REFERRALS." 

Don't tell the anziani.  Everyone asks them to do the service projects and then they give all their referrals to us.  it's cool. 

Kaitlin with a member.  The Rome Temple is to the left--under the big crane in the skyline.

ANYWAYS.  We love it here in Rome.  Lots of work to do, but we are happy and we are working hard. 

Thanks for all the updates from home, Mom.  I love getting those letters.  You can send everything to the office because I get it right away (perks).  So, thank you.  Also, can you send me a pic from my baptism?  Thanks. 

With love from Rome,

Sorella O'Connor 

Also:  the bishop's wife asked me to take family photos for them as a service.  She also said I get to pick the location and her clothes. dreams really do come true. 

(Email Sent - September 25, 2013)